Food costs for Victor schools questioned

Tuesday

Oct 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMOct 30, 2007 at 6:39 PM

A state review finds competitive bidding was skipped for four vendors.

Stephanie Bergeron

Victor schools got most good grades but may have been paying too much for pizza and produce, according to a report from the state Comptroller’s Office. School-lunch purchasing was cited as the area most in need of improvement in an audit of the Victor Central School District.

For purchasing, the audit states that 170 vendors paid an amount greater than the district’s competitive bidding threshold of $10,000 for purchasing contracts and $20,000 for public work contracts in the 2005-06 fiscal year, with the biggest problem area identified as lunch costs. Payments totaling $542,695 to 11 school-lunch vendors were reviewed, and competitive bidding was not done for four of those vendors.

“As a result of the failure to solicit competitive bids, the district was at risk of purchasing goods at higher prices than necessary,” the report reads.

In a letter of response to the Office of the State Comptroller, Superintendent Tim McElheran said the district has established a written policy regarding purchase contracts more than $10,000 and public work contracts more than $20,000. The policy includes documenting goods and services not subject to competitive bidding, three written quotations required for all purchase contracts between $5,000 and $10,000 and public work contracts between $10,000 and $20,000, and keeping documentation of all actions taken.

Purchases of both pizza and produce were items McElheran cited as not being up for bid originally but have since been opened to a bidding process. The lowest bid for pizza was from the same vendor used before the bidding process, and the cost per pizza did not change, McElheran said. For produce, McElheran said bids are rarely done in schools and the district chose to use local vendors to provide fruits and vegetables. Only one vendor has the New York state contract for produce, which does not always have the lowest prices available, said McElheran.

“If you put everything into perspective, we’re buying locally and it’s at a cheaper price than what we could get on a New York state contract price,” said school district business official Michael Vistocco.

Aside from school-lunch purchasing, the audit states that overall controls in the district were adequate with limited risks for potential fraud, theft or professional misconduct.

Stephanie Bergeron can be reached at (585)394-0770 , ext. 255 or at sbergeron@mpnewspapers.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.